The Hidden Cost of Extending Your Mortgage Back to 30 Years
The federal government has tried (via 2009 legislation and later instructions to banks from APRA, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) to ensure that mortgage borrowers will be able to service their loan and cope with any future interest rate rises. Despite this, many Australian homeowners are struggling financially as a result of inflation’s impact on […]
Why Your Borrowing Capacity Can Change Even if Your Income Hasn’t
It’s been a while since you last had a salary increase, so the amount you could borrow as a home loan is the same as last time you checked, right? Wrong. Your salary is only one of the factors that can affect your borrowing capacity. There are many others, relating to changes in the economic […]
Quarterly Economic Update: April – June 2026
It was a quarter of two halves. Overseas, the US and Iran agreed to end their war, sending oil prices tumbling and sharemarkets rallying. At home, households copped another rate rise before the RBA hit pause, and the Federal Budget rewrote the rules for property investors. Peace in the Middle East — Oil Falls and […]
Escaping the Subscription Trap
How many subscriptions does your household currently have? Most of us, when we consider subscriptions, think Netflix, Prime, perhaps an online newspaper or magazine. But if you pause for a moment, there are probably more than you realise, and they’re not cheap! Subscription creep is a real thing. It’s that quietly increasing number of services […]
When Good Money Doesn’t Mean Financial Security
Not so long ago, a six-figure salary was considered a solid income. But you didn’t suddenly become extravagant, so why are you now feeling like you need to tighten your belt? You’re not imagining that growing sense of financial unease, nor are you alone. Chances are you’re experiencing what’s become known as the “middle-class squeeze.” […]
How Many Bank Accounts Should You Really Have?
There’s no such thing as a perfect number of bank accounts that will suit everyone. But there are good reasons for avoiding the extremes of having only one account struggling to cover all your needs and goals, or on the other hand, having a large and confusing mix of accounts with different banks, some of […]
Cash Flow Budgeting: Why It’s About More Than Cutting Costs
The core purpose of budgeting is to control cash flow: cash in, cash out, and what’s left over. Kudos to you if you’ve created a budget where your annual expenditure is less than your annual income. The surplus cash can help you to reduce debt, establish a buffer, and ultimately, create wealth. But you won’t […]
Loyalty Tax – Are You Paying More Than You Should?
Sandy joined her local gym a decade ago. She was proud of her long-member status and was content to pay the monthly $200 fee. Imagine her surprise, when a friend was offered a sign-on deal of just $150 per month for the first year! Known as loyalty tax, it’s that extra amount you pay effectively […]
How to Avoid Income Tax Bracket Creep After a Pay Rise
You earn more money; you pay more tax. So far, so fair. But what’s not so fair happens when your wage rise bumps your earnings into a higher tax bracket, even though your pay increase may only be in line with inflation. This is known as ‘bracket creep’, and the combination of inflation and a […]
Quarterly Economic Update: January – March 2026
The first quarter of 2026 will be remembered as one of the most consequential in decades. A war erupted in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz closed, oil prices surged past US$100 per barrel, and inflation roared back to life. Central banks pivoted sharply from cutting rates to raising them. For Australian households, that […]